Missouri...An Impromptu Trip

My Great Aunt Pat passed away last week so we decided to pay our respects. My mom, Ivy, AnnDrea and I drove to Missouri where the funeral was held and most of my mom's family is. It was a long 2600 mile drive (there and back), but we did have some fun in the sad time.

Us girls got to spend some quality time together and my mom updated us on some family history. We got to see family that I haven't seen in a long time, and a new little addition to our family, baby Andrew. He is such a cute little boy, and so good. Carlie is lucky.

My Aunt Pat was an amazing and strong woman. While she will be greatly missed, I know she is in a better place and free of worldly pain, both physically and emotionally.

Life never goes as planned. But you roll with the punches and you take care of your family. That is what I feel happened this weekend. My Mom never questioned going, she asked me and my sister to go and we went with her. While we knew Aunt Pat and will miss her, we were there for my mom. Then my amazing husband never questioned my decision to go, in fact he help immensely and made it easier for me to leave my kids and him. I knew everything at home would be taken care of, so no worries there.

When all else fails my family will be there for me, and I will be there for them.

New Trampoline

So we knocked another project off the list today by finally getting the trampoline done. The kids are extremely happy, and I got a real good workout on it today. After about 2 hours of jumping, the kids fell asleep on the couch while I cooked dinner. Hopefully it will be a good way to wear them down for the night!!

Richard

Hamburgers anyone?

So I am quite proud of my baking adventure today.

I was put in charge of the dessert for the Father's Day BBQ. My mom the hostess with the mostest is making garlic burgers with an assortment of toppings, bacon, mushrooms, Swiss cheese and blue cheese etc..

What could I do? Make hamburgers too!

Cupcakes, brownies and frosting. Yummy! But something is missing...

French fries and fry sauce (aka sugar cookies and frosting). Yep I think that will hit the spot. So before I can take all the praise for creativity, I have to admit this was not my idea. I got the idea off of Bakerella.blogspot. She has the best ideas. I just added the fry sauce. That is quite Utahan don't ya think!!

~Amanda

The Fence is DONE!!!

So we decided a few months a go to finally bite the bullet and put in a new fence. After going back and forth with the idea of Richard doing the fence himself, and what kind of fence to do, we finally decided that it would be faster, easier and not that much more cost wise to pay someone to do it. We did some research, got some bids and went with a vinyl company.

So after the main water line break three times and being without water for hours on end three different days. It is finally done and absolutely wonderful.

This is going to be a garden area in our back yard. Unfortunately it will have to wait until next year to get planted. I have one plant started...

This is the pergola Richard built so I can grow blackberries. I got some starts off my grandpa's vines. I am hoping that they will survive. I think some have already died on me.

I have never been very good at growing things. All my house plants die no matter how much or little attention I give them. Bradley thinks I need the AquaGlobes that they sale on the infomercials. Do you think that will help with the blackberries???

And puppy makes five

Our newest addition has finally arrived, and while it doesn't seem like that long since Niko has passed, it has been a long time coming since I have wanted a new little puppy.


Piper our little King Charles Cavalier Spaniel joined our family June 9, 2009. At 10 weeks old she was ready to leave her mother and two brothers. Her separation was a lot easier than expected.


She is a cuddler and a fast learner. In the first few days we have had her she has learned fetch, knows the kennel routine and is basically potty trained. Piper also figure out on the first night that if she got on the kids' little chair, then the end table she could get on the couch (the one time we didn't let her up). We moved the chairs but that didn't deter her either. She tried until she could jump on the couch.


It has only been a few days, so I know she still can prove me wrong, but she is the best little puppy. And the cutest, and I may be a little biased on that subject. But one look from her big brown puppy dog eyes will melt any one's heart. I am a proud mama so you will probably hear way too much about little Piper. But how can you resist?





~Amanda